Hi I'm Melissa and I am a third year student midwife at Bradford University. I am travelling to Tanzania, Dar Es Salaam in February 2018 with Work the World for two weeks for my Midwifery elective placement.

During my time as a student midwife I have learned many skills within maternity care and have had the privilege to be a part of many beautiful moments with families through pregnancy, the birth of their baby and the care in the early days. Unfortunately, I have also experienced devastating times for families where the outcome is not always what is expected despite medical resources available to us through the NHS.

I have chosen to volunteer in Tanzania because I want to observe how maternity services practice in a developing country where the NHS does not exist. Due to not having easy access to doctors, hospitals, medicines, maternity care and specialist equipment, emergency responses will differ massively to the UK stripping maternity care back to the basics.

In Tanzania 40 babies die per 1000 live births compared to the UK statistics of 4 per 1000. Also, every year an estimate of 8,200 women die whilst pregnant or shortly after in Tanzania compared to 74 in the UK making it a very high risk area to have a baby, yet only 51% of births are assisted by an appropriate skilled attendant in Tanzania.

What your donations will go towards :

- Due to the poverty and high prevalence of HIV in Tanzania I would like to help reduce the risk of transmission by providing aprons and gloves to the hospital bought from the local community. This ensures I donate the same equipment the hospital would normally use but may not necessarily have the funds to buy and supports the local economy.

- Accommodation – I am travelling with the organisation Work the World who will provide my accommodation, meals, language lessons and 24-hour support during my stay.

- Flights and Visas.

- Insurance – this covers flights and health security.

- Immunisations – There are many immunisations I will need before travelling that may not be covered by the NHS including protection against malaria.

I chose this elective as I want to challenge myself, explore another culture and experience midwifery in a low-resource country. I hope that it will give me a new perspective on our maternity services and NHS in the UK and reflect on how I provide my care throughout my Midwifery career.

I am so excited to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity!

All contributions are massively appreciated no matter how small!

Please feel free to share my funding page.

Thank you!